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HDFH has formally launched the Global Digital Bank Consortium Blockchain Investment Fund at the 2nd China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.
Initiated by HDFH, Yillion Bank and Zhongguancun Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (ZVCA) in collaboration with domestic and international investors, the new fund will invest in digital banks and proven fintech infrastructure platforms worldwide, as well as integrate the capabilities of the three parties’ management teams to facilitate the upgrading of investment targets, ultimately maximising value in the capital markets.
“Based on the investors’ accumulation of experience in the fintech sector, the fund plans to invest in
European retail sector investor, Alteri Investors (Alteri) is to acquire Blue Group Hold Co (the Group), the owner of Bensons for Beds, Harveys Furniture and upholstery and bedding manufacturers Reylon, Steinhoff UK Beds and Formation Furniture, from Steinhoff International Holdings NV (Steinhoff). Harveys and Bensons for Beds, which have been owned by Steinhoff since 2005, trade from 269 stores. The Group, which also has four manufacturing sites, as well as five distribution centres in the UK, employs more than 2,700 people and has an annual turnover of over GBP500 million.
Alteri’s backing will enable management to drive continued improvement in the
Lazard UK Investment Banking (Lazard) has launched a new team, Lazard Venture and Growth Banking, and appointed Garri Jones and Nick James as Managing Directors in the company’s UK investment banking business.
Jones and James will formally start their new roles in January from Numis, where they ran a ventures practice together.
The Lazard Ventures and Growth Banking team will focus on the private growth equity and venture capital markets, connecting growth businesses with its large global investor base. The team will work with Lazard’s Capital Markets and sector M&A teams as part of an integrated Investment Banking Advisory
Mid-market private equity firm, Equistone Partners Europe (Equistone) is to acquire Brussels-based, Amadys, a provider of passive network equipment solutions to utility segments in Belgium and its surrounding countries, from the existing management team and Vectis Private Equity.
The management team, led by CEO Hein Wilderjans, will continue to run the company following the acquisition and retain a sizeable minority share in the business. Financial terms of the transaction, which is expected to complete in early 2020, have not been disclosed and the acquisition remains subject to clearance from the relevant competition authorities.
Amadys, through its various operating companies, provides
Northzone is to closed its latest fund Northzone IX with capital commitments of around YSD500 million.
Oversubscribed fund attracted existing and new Limited Partners, and was raised at record speed, demonstrating strong global interest in the European early-stage venture capital market. The fund is one of the largest early stage venture capital funds raised in Europe this year.
Northzone IX will double down on investing in early-stage innovative consumer and enterprise companies across Europe and the US East Coast, focusing primarily on Series A and B rounds. Selective seed stage investments will continue to be a part of the investment
Guardian Capital Partners has invested in WS Acquisition, which operates two integrated divisions – Western Shelter Systems and CrewBoss.
Guardian has partnered with the Company’s executive management team, led by CEO Michael Scala and CFO Greg Lyons, who will continue to operate the Company moving forward.
Headquartered in Eugene, OR, Western Shelter (www.westernshelter.com) manufactures and distributes shelters and field support systems which include rigid and inflatable framed shelters in a variety of sizes and trim levels complete with accessories that cover climate control, power generation, water handling, and more. Since 1988, Western Shelter has been a primary supplier of emergency
Habi, a Bogotá-based technology-driven real estate company dedicated to simplifying the lifecycle of homeownership in Latin America, has closed a USD5.5 million pre-seed round led by Tiger Global Management, as well as Homebrew and Zigg.
Reshape Holdings, FJ Labs, Supernode Ventures among others also participated in the round.
Co-founded by real estate industry expert, Brynne McNulty Rojas, and Sebastian Noguera, an entrepreneur and former technology executive of one of Colombia’s largest banks, Habi will simplify the process of buying and selling residential real estate for middle-class consumers in the complex, USD10 trillion Latin American real estate market. Leveraging its
Schmitt focuses on the commercial tire market, light manufacturing, and other middle market industrial businesses, assisting companies with M&A activities, financing growth, and market consolidation on the buy or the sell side.
Prior to joining Skyway Capital Markets, Schmitt served in various senior management and executive positions with Michelin North America. With a career spanning 33 years at Michelin, his most recent roles were President of Michelin Retread Technologies, Inc. (MRTI), and Technical and Manufacturing director for Michelin Tweel Technologies. Michelin Tweel technologies is a new venture within Michelin to develop, manufacture and sell airless radial tires for commercial applications.
The VCT season continues to pick up steam, with Maven announcing its intention to raise GBP15 million across two of its VCTs. It follows on from recent high profile launches from Albion, Mobeus and Octopus Titan.
Demand for VCTs has been strong this tax year. So far GBP31 million has been invested through the Wealth Club platform compared with GBP21 million over the same period last year.
This comes despite many people sitting on their hands as a result of election and Brexit uncertainty and the fact that many popular VCTs have opened later this year than last.
Northgate Capital has closed Northgate Venture Partners VIII (NVP VIII) at USD120 million. NVP VIII invests primarily in marquee venture capital firms and a select number of emerging managers.
“Over the last 20 years, we have backed some of the premier venture capital firms in the business,” says Brent Jones, Co-Founder and Partner at Northgate. “We are delighted to deploy our eighth venture capital fund-of-funds and carry on our long history of supporting firms whose entrepreneurs continue innovating the technology sector.”
Tommy Vardell, Co-Founder and Partner at Northgate, adds: “Given that the venture capital asset class has a wide dispersion
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